On January 14, 2020, a Supreme Court in Nigeria sacked the incumbent governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha in favour of Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Until 2016, when Senator Hope Uzodinma emerged Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, not many Nigerians knew the man the court has pronounced the authentic governor of Imo State.

Here are 3 top moments in Hope Uzodinma’s political career as he takes over Imo State

The Customs Committee against Customs boss

In 2017, Hope Uzodinma made headlines after the Senate Committee, which he heads called for the head of the Customs boss, Hameed Ali.

The Senator and his colleagues -spearheaded by sacked Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Obinna Ogba – ridiculed Ali for not wearing the uniform of the customs.

Uzodinma ended the session by bidding farewell to the then 62-year-old Ali by saying, “We are releasing you to go and sew your uniform.”

Uzodinma’s alleged arrest over his company’s impropriety

On November 11, 2018, The Special Presidential Investigation Panel For Recovery of Public Property said it arrested Senator Hope Uzodinma.

According to a statement by the chairman of the Panel, Okoi Obono-Obla, Senator Uzodinma was arrested for the failure of his company to execute a contract of $12m for the dredging of Calabar channel. He added that the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial district has been evading arrest for about a year. Uzodinma later denied the arrest saying it was a ploy to distract him from contesting in the 2019 general elections.

Uzodinma goes to war with Okorocha

2019 had Uzodinma going to war with ex-Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha over the APC primaries. Okorocha had backed his son-law, Uche Nwosu against Uzodinma. At some point during their political war, Uzodinma said Okorocha should be ashamed that his bid to force his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu on Imo people did not succeed. The former Senator said this while reacting to a statement where Okorocha said that the APC failed in Imo state because the fielded Uzodinma.